Touch Display Device and Touchscreen Panel

ABSTRACT

A touch display device and a touchscreen panel. Even in the case in which touch electrodes have different sizes or shapes or a located in different positions, a difference in capacitance is not formed among the touch electrodes. High touch sensitivity can be obtained. The touch display device comprises a plurality of touch electrodes, wherein a first touch electrode of the plurality of touch electrodes occupies a first area and comprises first mesh-shaped electrode metal. The touch display device comprises first dummy metal in a same layer as the first mesh-shaped electrode metal and in the first area occupied by the first touch electrode, the first dummy metal being electrically disconnected from the first mesh-shaped electrode metal.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2017-0068354, filed on Jun. 1, 2017, which is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure relates to a touch display device and atouchscreen panel.

Description of Related Art

In response to the development of the information society, demand for avariety of display devices for displaying images is increasing. In thisregard, a range of display devices, such as liquid crystal display (LCD)devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), and organic light-emitting diode(OLED) display devices, have recently come into widespread use.

Among such display devices, touch display devices provide touch-baseduser interfaces enabling users to intuitively and conveniently inputdata or instructions directly to devices, rather than using conventionaldata input systems, such as buttons, a keyboard, or a mouse.

To provide such touch-based user interfaces, touch display devices mustbe able to sense a touch performed by a user and accurately detect touchcoordinates.

In this regard, among a variety of touch sensing methods, capacitancetouch sensing is commonly used to sense a touch and determine touchcoordinates using a plurality of touch electrodes disposed on atouchscreen panel, based on a change in capacitance between touchelectrodes.

In a conventional touch display device, touch electrodes may havedifferent sizes due to the shapes, locations, and the like of the touchelectrodes. This may consequently cause undesired differences incapacitance formed between the touch electrodes, thereby degrading touchsensitivity.

BRIEF SUMMARY

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provide a touchdisplay device and a touchscreen panel that can obtain high touchsensitivity by preventing or removing undesired differences incapacitance among touch electrodes in all positions, regardless of thepositions of the touch electrodes.

Also provided are a touch display device and a touchscreen panel thatcan perform accurate capacitance-based touch sensing, regardless of theshapes of the touchscreen panel.

Also provided are a touch display device and a touchscreen panel thatcan obtain high touch sensitivity by preventing undesired differences incapacitance among touch electrodes, even in the case in which the touchelectrodes have different sizes.

Also provided are a touch display device and a touchscreen panel thatcan obtain high touch sensitivity by preventing undesired differences incapacitance among touch electrodes, even in the case in which the touchelectrodes have different shapes.

Also provided are a touch display device and a touchscreen panel thatcan obtain high touch sensitivity in all areas by reducing undesireddifferences in capacitance among touch electrodes located in roundedcorner areas and touch electrodes located in the other areas.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a touch display devicemay include: a touchscreen panel including a plurality of touchelectrodes; and a touch circuit transferring touch driving signals tothe touchscreen panel

Each of the plurality of touch electrodes may be a patterned mesh-typeelectrode metal.

In each area of at least portions of the plurality of touch electrodes,one or more dummy metals electrically disconnected from the electrodemetal may be present.

The electrode metals and the dummy metals may be located on the samelayer and may be formed of the same material.

The plurality of touch electrodes may include corner touch electrodeslocated in a corner area of the touchscreen panel and non-comer touchelectrodes located in a non-corner area of the touchscreen panel.

The corner touch electrodes may be smaller than the non-corner touchelectrodes.

In each area of the non-comer touch electrodes, one or more dummy metalselectrically disconnected from the electrode metal may be present.

In contrast, in each area of the corner touch electrodes, dummy metalselectrically disconnected from the electrode metal may not be present.

Alternatively, in each area of the corner touch electrodes, dummy metalselectrically disconnected from the electrode metal may be present at aratio lower than a ratio of the dummy metals present in the each area ofthe non-corner touch electrodes.

Here, the ratio of one or more dummy metals in each area of the cornertouch electrodes may mean a ratio B/A of a total area B of the one ormore dummy metals with respect to a total area A of the corner touchelectrodes.

The ratio of the dummy metals in the area of the corner touch electrodemay be controlled by adjusting the number or area of the dummy metals inthe area of the corner touch electrode.

In the touchscreen panel, one or more corner areas may have a roundedoutline shape.

A peripheral portion of each of the corner touch electrodes may have arounded shape.

A plurality of touch lines electrically connecting at least portions ofthe plurality of touch electrodes to the touch circuit may be disposedin the touchscreen panel.

The shapes of the touch lines electrically connected to the corner touchelectrodes may be different from the shapes of the touch lineselectrically connected to the non-corner touch electrodes.

A peripheral portion of each of the corner touch electrodes may berounded. Each of the touch lines electrically connected to the cornertouch electrodes may have a rounded portion.

The plurality of touch electrodes may be mutual-capacitance touchsensors.

Alternatively, the plurality of touch electrodes may be self-capacitancetouch sensors.

The size of the area of a single touch electrode corresponds to the sizeof the areas of several subpixels.

The mesh-type electrode metal of each of the plurality of touchelectrodes may have a plurality of open areas. Each of the plurality ofopen areas may correspond to light-emitting portions of one or moresubpixels.

The patterned mesh-type electrode metal corresponding to each of thetouch electrodes may be located to overlap a black matrix. That is, theblack matrix is located to overlap the electrode metal.

In the patterned mesh-type electrode metal corresponding to each of thetouch electrodes, the plurality of open areas may correspond to aplurality of color filters.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a touchscreenpanel may include: a plurality of touch electrodes; and a plurality oftouch lines connected to at least portions of the plurality of touchelectrodes.

Each of the plurality of touch electrodes may be a patterned mesh-typeelectrode metal.

One or more dummy metals electrically disconnected from the electrodemetal may be present in each area of at least portions among theplurality of touch electrodes.

A ratio of the dummy metals in each area of at least one touch electrodeamong the plurality of touch electrodes may be different from a ratio ofthe dummy metals in each area of the other touch electrodes.

The dummy metals may not be present in each area of at least one touchelectrode among the plurality of touch electrodes.

When the at least one touch electrode is smaller than the other touchelectrodes, the ratio of the dummy metals in each area of the at leastone touch electrode may be lower than the ratio of the dummy metals ineach area of the other touch electrodes.

When the at least one touch electrode is located in a corner area, theratio of the dummy metals in each area of the at least one touchelectrode may be lower than the ratio of the dummy metals in each areaof the other touch electrodes.

When a peripheral portion of the at least one touch electrode has arounded shape, the ratio of the dummy metals in each area of the atleast one touch electrode may be lower than the ratio of the dummymetals in each area of the other touch electrodes.

According to at least one embodiment, the touch display device and thetouchscreen panel can obtain high touch sensitivity by preventing orremoving undesired differences in capacitance formed among touchelectrodes located in all positions, regardless of the positions of thetouch electrodes.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, the touch displaydevice and the touchscreen panel can perform accurate capacitance-basedtouch sensing, regardless of the shapes of the touchscreen panel.

Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment, the touch displaydevice and the touchscreen panel can obtain high touch sensitivity bypreventing undesired differences in capacitance among touch electrodes,even in the case in which the touch electrodes have different sizes.

In addition, according to at least one embodiment, the touch displaydevice and the touchscreen panel can obtain high touch sensitivity bypreventing undesired differences in capacitance among touch electrodes,even in the case in which the touch electrodes have different shapes.

Furthermore, according to at least one embodiment, the touch displaydevice and the touchscreen panel can obtain high touch sensitivity inall areas by reducing undesired differences in capacitance between touchelectrodes located in rounded corner areas and touch electrodes locatedin the other areas.

In at least one embodiment, a touch display device comprises a pluralityof touch electrodes. A first touch electrode of the plurality of touchelectrodes occupies a first area and comprises first mesh-shapedelectrode metal. First dummy metal is in a same layer as the firstmesh-shaped electrode metal and is in the first area occupied by thefirst touch electrode, the first dummy metal being electricallydisconnected from the first mesh-shaped electrode metal.

In at least one embodiment, a second touch electrode of the plurality oftouch electrodes occupies a second area and comprises second mesh-shapedelectrode metal, and the touch display device either: (a) furthercomprises second dummy metal in a same layer as the second mesh-shapedelectrode metal and in the second area occupied by the second touchelectrode, the second dummy metal being electrically disconnected fromthe second mesh-shaped electrode metal, a second ratio of the seconddummy metal to the second area of the second touch electrode being lowerthan a first ratio of the first dummy metal to the first area of thefirst touch electrode, or (b) does not include any dummy metal in thesame layer as the second mesh-shaped electrode metal in the second areaoccupied by the second touch electrode.

In at least one embodiment, the second touch electrode is a cornerelectrode in a corner region of a touchscreen panel and the first touchelectrode is a non-corner electrode in a non-corner region of thetouchscreen panel. In at least one embodiment, the corner electrode hasa rounded edge.

In at least one embodiment, the second touch electrode is an edgeelectrode at an edge region of a touchscreen panel and the first touchelectrode is an inner electrode in an inner region of the touchscreenpanel.

In at least one embodiment, the first area occupied by the first touchelectrode has a different size than the second area occupied by thesecond touch electrode. In at least one embodiment, the second areaoccupied by the second touch electrode is smaller than the first areaoccupied by the first touch electrode.

In at least one embodiment, a third touch electrode of the plurality oftouch electrodes occupies a third area and comprises third mesh-shapedelectrode metal, the third area being smaller than the second area, andtouch display device either: (a) further comprises third dummy metal ina same layer as the third mesh-shaped electrode metal and in the thirdarea occupied by the third touch electrode, the third dummy metal beingelectrically disconnected from the third mesh-shaped electrode metal, athird ratio of the third dummy metal to the third area of the thirdtouch electrode being lower than the second ratio of the second dummymetal to the second area of the second touch electrode, or (b) does notinclude any dummy metal in the same layer as the third mesh-shapedelectrode metal in the third area occupied by the third touch electrode.

In at least one embodiment, the first mesh shaped electrode metal has aplurality of open areas, each of the plurality of open areascorresponding to light-emitting portions of one or more subpixels.

In at least one embodiment, a black matrix overlaps the first meshshaped electrode metal, and wherein the plurality of open areascorrespond to a plurality of color filters.

In at least one embodiment, the first mesh shaped electrode metalsurrounds the first dummy metal in a plan view of the touch displaydevice.

In at least one embodiment, the touch display device further comprises acathode layer; and an encapsulation layer on the cathode layer, whereinthe plurality of touch electrodes are on the encapsulation layer. In atleast one embodiment, the plurality of touch electrodes are in a touchelectrode area, and at least one of the encapsulation layer and thecathode layer is larger than the touch electrode area.

In at least one embodiment, a plurality of touch lines electricallyconnect to the plurality of touch electrodes. A corner shape of a firsttouch line electrically connected to the first touch electrode isdifferent than a corner shape of a second touch line electricallyconnected to a second touch electrode of the plurality of touchelectrodes. In one embodiment, the second touch line has a portion witha rounded corner shape.

In one embodiment, a plurality of touch lines electrically connect tothe plurality of touch electrodes. A corner shape of a first touch lineelectrically connected to the first touch electrode is different than acorner shape of a second touch line electrically connected to a secondtouch electrode of the plurality of touch electrodes. In one embodiment,the second touch line has a portion with a rounded corner shape

In at least one embodiment, a touch display device comprises a pluralityof touch electrodes. The plurality of touch electrodes comprise a firstpair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes separated by a firstdistance, and a second pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodesseparated by a second distance that is greater than the first distance.The first pair of adjacent touch electrodes occupy a smaller area thanthe second pair of adjacent touch electrodes.

In at least one embodiment, the first pair of immediately adjacent touchelectrodes is in a corner region of a touchscreen panel and the secondpair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes is in a non-corner regionof the touchscreen panel.

In at least one embodiment, a corner shape of a first touch lineelectrically connected to a touch electrode of the first pair ofimmediately adjacent touch electrodes is different than a corner shapeof a second touch line electrically connected to a touch electrode ofthe second pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes. In at leastone embodiment, the second touch line has a portion with a roundedcorner shape.

In at least one embodiment, the display device further comprises acathode layer and an encapsulation layer on the cathode layer. Theplurality of touch electrodes are on the encapsulation layer.

In at least one embodiment, a touch display device comprises a pluralityof touch electrodes including a first pair of immediately adjacent touchelectrodes made of a first electrode metal patterned as a mesh type, anda second pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes made of a secondelectrode metal patterned as a mesh type. An open area size of the firstelectrode metal is larger than an open area size of the second electrodemetal. The first pair of adjacent touch electrodes occupy a larger areathan the second pair of adjacent touch electrodes.

In at least one embodiment, the first pair of immediately adjacent touchelectrodes is in a non-corner region of a touchscreen panel and thesecond pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes is in a cornerregion of the touchscreen panel.

In at least one embodiment, a corner shape of a first touch lineelectrically connected to a touch electrode of the first pair ofimmediately adjacent touch electrodes is different than a corner shapeof a second touch line electrically connected to a touch electrode ofthe second pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes.

In at least one embodiment, the second touch line has a portion with arounded corner shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detaileddescription when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the system configuration of atouch display device according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary touchscreen panel of the touch displaydevice according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of a mesh-type touch electrode in thetouchscreen panel according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the touchscreen panel according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 5A illustrates a plan view of a mesh-type touch electrode in thetouchscreen panel according to exemplary embodiments, with dummy metalsbeing present in the area of the mesh-type touch electrode;

FIG. 5B illustrates the mesh-type touch electrode in the touchscreenpanel according to exemplary embodiments, in which dummy metals presentin the area of the mesh-type touch electrode are not illustrated;

FIG. 6 illustrates three areas of the touchscreen panel according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 7 illustrates touch electrodes in three areas of the touchscreenpanel according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a corner area of the touchscreenpanel according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the corner area of thetouchscreen panel according to exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a corner area of another touchscreenpanel according to exemplary embodiments, in which the ratio of dummymetals in the corner area is adjusted;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the corner area ofanother touchscreen panel according to exemplary embodiments, in whichthe ratio of the dummy metals in the corner area is adjusted;

FIG. 12 illustrates a case in which the sizes of touch electrodeslocated in corner areas of the touchscreen panel according to exemplaryembodiments are increased;

FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary touchscreen panel according toexemplary embodiments;

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating a corner area of the touchscreenpanel illustrated in FIG. 13, in the case in which the ratio of dummymetals in the corner area is adjusted;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are circuit diagrams illustrating subpixel structures inthe touch display device according to exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sections of the touch display device accordingto exemplary embodiments; and

FIG. 19 illustrates touch electrodes in the touchscreen panel accordingto exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, reference will be made to embodiments of the presentdisclosure in detail, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Throughout this document, reference should bemade to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals and symbolswill be used to designate the same or like components. In the followingdescription of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of knownfunctions and components incorporated herein will be omitted in the casethat the subject matter of the present disclosure may be renderedunclear thereby.

It will also be understood that, while terms such as “first,” “second,”“A,” “B,” “(a),” and “(b)” may be used herein to describe variouselements, such terms are merely used to distinguish one element fromanother element. The substance, sequence, order, or number of theseelements is not limited by these terms. It will be understood that whenan element is referred to as being “connected to” or “coupled to”another element, not only can it be “directly connected or coupled to”the other element, but it can also be “indirectly connected or coupledto” the other element via an “intervening” element. In the same context,it will be understood that when an element is referred to as beingformed “on” or “under” another element, not only can it be directlyformed on or under another element, but it can also be indirectly formedon or under another element via an intervening element.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the system configuration of atouch display device 100 according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch display device 100 according to exemplaryembodiments can provide an image display function to display images anda touch sensing function to sense a touch performed by a user.

The touch display device 100 according to exemplary embodiments includesa display panel 110 on which data lines and gate lines are disposed, adisplay driver circuit 120 driving the display panel 110, and the liketo display images.

In terms of functions, the display driver circuit 120 includes a datadriver circuit driving the data lines, a gate driver circuit driving thegate lines, a controller controlling the data driver circuit and thegate driver circuit, and the like.

The display driver circuit 120 may be implemented as one or moreintegrated circuits (ICs).

The touch display device 100 according to exemplary embodiments includesa touchscreen panel TSP on which a number of touch electrodes TE aredisposed, a touch circuit 130 driving the touchscreen panel TSP andperforming sensing processing, and the like, to perform a touch sensingoperation. The touchscreen panel TSP may be integrated into the displaypanel 110 such that the touchscreen panel TSP and the display panel TSPtogether form an integrated touchscreen display panel.

The touch circuit 130 transfers touch driving signals to the touchscreenpanel TSP to drive the touchscreen panel TSP, subsequently receivestouch sensing signals from the touchscreen panel TSP, and detects atouch and/or touch coordinates based on the touch sensing signals.

The touch circuit 130 may include a touch driver circuit transferringtouch driving signals and receiving touch sensing signals, a touchcontroller calculating a touch and/or a touched position (touchcoordinates), and the like.

The touch circuit 130 may be embodied as one or more components (e.g.ICs) or may be configured separately to the display driver circuit 120.

In addition, at least a portion of the touch circuit 130 may beintegrated with the display driver circuit 120 or an internal circuit ofthe display driver circuit 120. For example, the touch driver circuit ofthe touch circuit 130 may be embodied as an IC, together with the datadriver circuit of the display driver circuit 120.

The touch display device 100 according to exemplary embodiments cansense a touch based on capacitance formed in the touch electrodes TE.

The touch display device 100 according to exemplary embodiments cansense a touch using a capacitance-based touch sensing method, i.e.mutual-capacitance-based touch sensing or self-capacitance-based touchsensing.

In the case of mutual-capacitance-based touch sensing, a plurality oftouch electrodes TE may be divided into driving electrodes (alsoreferred to as transmitting electrodes or driving lines) to which touchdriving signals are applied and sensing electrodes (also referred to asreceiving electrodes or sensing lines) in which touch sensing signalsare sensed, the sensing electrodes forming capacitance together with thedriving electrodes.

Hereinafter, touch electrodes among the plurality of touch electrodes,corresponding to the driving electrodes, will be referred to as “firsttouch electrodes TE-1,” while touch electrodes among the plurality oftouch electrodes, corresponding to the sensing electrodes, will bereferred to as “second touch electrodes TE-2.”

The mutual-capacitance-based touch sensing as described above detects atouch and/or touch coordinates based on a change in capacitance (mutualcapacitance) between a driving electrode and a sensing electrodedepending on the presence of a pointer, such as a finger, a stylus, orsimilar.

In the case of self-capacitance-based touch sensing, each touchelectrode TE functions not only as a driving electrode but also as asensing electrode. Specifically, a touch driving signal is applied toeach touch electrode TE, and a touch sensing signal is received throughthe touch electrode TE to which the touch driving signal is applied.Thus, in the self-capacitance-based touch sensing, there are nodistinction between driving electrodes and sensing electrodes.

The self-capacitance-based touch sensing detects a touch and/or touchcoordinates based on a change in capacitance between a pointer, such asa finger or a stylus, and a touch electrode TE.

As described above, the touch display device 100 according to exemplaryembodiments can sense a touch using the mutual-capacitance-based touchsensing or the self-capacitance-based touch sensing.

Although improvements in the structure for improving touch sensitivitywill be described hereinafter, for convenience of description, inrelation to the touch display device 100 and the touchscreen panel TSPin which mutual-capacitance-based touch sensing is used, suchimprovements in the structure and the like, for improving touchsensitivity, are applicable equally to the touch display device and thetouchscreen panel in which self-capacitance-based touch sensing is used.

In addition, the display panel 110 of the touch display device 100according to exemplary embodiments may be selected from various types ofpanels, such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel and aliquid crystal display (LCD) panel. Hereinafter, the OLED panel will betaken by way of example for convenience of description.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary touchscreen panel TSP of the touchdisplay device 100 according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, the touchscreen panel TSP has a plurality of touchelectrodes TE disposed thereon. Touch lines TL electrically connectingthe touch electrodes TE and the touch circuit 130 are disposed on thetouchscreen panel TSP.

In addition, the touchscreen panel TSP has touch pads TP that are incontact with the touch circuit 130 to electrically connect the touchlines TL and the touch circuit 130.

The touch electrodes TE and the touch lines TL may be present on thesame layer or different layers.

The touch pads TP may be portions of the touch lines TL or may be metalsin contact with the touch lines TL.

Hereinafter, an area of the touchscreen panel TSP in which the touchelectrodes TE are disposed will be referred to as a touch electrode areaTEA.

The touch electrode area TEA itself may be referred to as a touchscreenpanel TSP. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the cathode layer orencapsulation layer of FIGS. 17 and 18 can be larger than the touchelectrode area TEA and extends past the touch electrode area TEA on allsides.

When the touch display device 100 uses the mutual-capacitance-basedtouch sensing, two or more first touch electrodes TE-1 arranged in thesame column (or the same row) may be electrically connected to form asingle driving electrode line DRL. Two or more second touch electrodesTE-2 arranged in the same column (or the same row) may be electricallyconnected to form a single sensing line SENL.

The two or more first touch electrodes TE-1 forming a single drivingline DRL correspond to driving electrodes. The two or more second touchelectrodes TE-2 forming a single electrode line SENL correspond tosensing electrodes.

One or more touch lines TL are connected to each driving line DRL, andone or more touch line TL is connected to each sensing line SENL.

One or more touch line TL connected to each driving electrode line DRLare referred to as driving touch lines TL-1. One or more touch line TLconnected to each sensing electrode line SENL are referred to as sensingtouch lines TL-2.

A single touch pad TP is connected to each touch line. A touch pad TPconnected to each driving touch line TL-1 is referred to as a drivingtouch pad TP-1. A touch pad TP connected to each sensing touch line TL-2is referred to as a sensing touch pad TP-2.

In other words, two or more touch electrodes among the plurality oftouch electrodes TE are electrically connected.

Thus, the number of touch electrodes TE may be comprised of drivingelectrode lines DRL and sensing electrode lines SENL.

Each of the driving electrode lines DRL is comprised of two or moretouch electrodes TE that are arranged in the same column or row and areelectrically connected.

Two or more touch electrodes TE forming a single driving electrode lineDRL may be integrated or may be connected by a connecting pattern, suchas a bridge.

Each of the sensing electrode lines SENL is comprised of two or moretouch electrodes TE that are arranged in the same column or row and areelectrically connected.

Two or more second touch electrodes TE-2 forming a single sensingelectrode line SENL may be integrated or may be connected by aconnecting pattern, such as a bridge pattern (BP).

The two or more first touch electrodes TE-1 forming a single drivingelectrode line DRL act as driving electrodes to which touch drivingsignals are applied, while the two or more second touch electrodes TE-2forming a single sensing electrode line SENL act as sensing electrodesin which touch sensing signals are sensed.

Portions of the plurality of touch electrodes TE are electricallyconnected to the touch lines TL, while the remaining portions of theplurality of touch electrodes TE are not electrically connected to thetouch lines TL.

For example, one of the first touch electrodes TE-1 (e.g. one or twooutermost first touch electrodes), corresponding to driving electrodesforming a single driving electrode line DRL, is connected to thecorresponding driving touch line TL-1, while the remaining first touchelectrodes TE-1 are not connected to the driving touch line TL-1.

In addition, one of the second touch electrodes TE-2 (e.g. one or twooutermost second touch electrodes), corresponding to sensing electrodesforming a single sensing electrode line SENL, is connected to thecorresponding sensing touch line TL-2, while the remaining second touchelectrodes TE-2 are not connected to the sensing touch line TL-2.

Due to the above-described structure, the touchscreen panel TSP canperform mutual-capacitance-based touch sensing.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the plurality of touch electrodes TE mayhave, for example, a diamond-like shape.

Alternatively, each of the plurality touch electrodes TE may have arectangular shape (including a square shape), and a variety of othershapes are possible.

The touch electrodes TE may be designed to have a variety of shapes,considering the display performance and touch performance of the touchdisplay device 100.

The touchscreen panel TSP, according to exemplary embodiments, may bedisposed outside of the display panel 110 (i.e. an external touchscreenpanel) or may be disposed inside of the display panel 110 (i.e. aninternal touchscreen panel).

When the touchscreen panel TSP is an external touchscreen panel, thetouchscreen panel TSP and the display panel 110 may be fabricated indifferent panel fabrication processes before being bonded to each other.

When the touchscreen panel TSP is an internal touchscreen panel, thetouchscreen panel TSP and the display panel 110 may be fabricatedtogether in a single panel fabrication process.

When the touchscreen panel TSP is an internal touchscreen panel, thetouchscreen panel TSP may be regarded as an assembly of a plurality oftouch electrodes TE. Here, a plate on which the plurality of touchelectrodes TE are placed may be a dedicated substrate or may be a layer(e.g. an encapsulation layer) present on the display panel 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mesh-type touch electrode in the touchscreen panelTSP according to exemplary embodiments.

In the touchscreen panel TSP according to exemplary embodiments, each ofthe plurality of touch electrodes TE may be a mesh-type touch electrode.

That is, each touch electrode TE may be a mesh-type electrode metal EMin which openings are formed.

The openings in the touch electrode TE are referred to as open areas OA.

The electrode metal EM used herein may be interpreted as having the samemeaning as the touch electrode TE.

As described above, the outline shape of each touch electrode TE may beroughly a diamond-like shape, a rectangular shape (including a squareshape), or similar. The touch electrode TE occupies a certain overallarea defined by the shape of the touch electrode TE. In addition, theopen areas OA corresponding to the openings in each touch electrode TEmay have a diamond-like shape, a rectangular shape (including a squareshape), or similar.

The rough outline shape of each touch electrode TE may be the same ordiffer from the shape of the open areas OA corresponding to the openingsin the touch electrode TE.

Each touch electrode TE is a mesh-type electrode metal EM having aplurality of open areas OA. The touch electrode TE is patterned suchthat light-emitting portions of one or more subpixels are located ineach of the plurality of open areas OA. Thus, a touch sensing structureand the display panel 100 can be effectively provided, and the luminousefficiency of the display panel 110 with the touchscreen panel TSP beinginternally disposed therein can be improved.

When the display panel 110 is an LCD panel, the light-emitting portionof the subpixel may include a pixel electrode, a color filter, orsimilar. When the display panel 110 is an OLED panel, the light-emittingportion of the subpixel may include a pixel electrode, a color filter,or similar. When the display panel 110 is an OLED panel, thelight-emitting portion of the subpixel may include an anode, an organiclight-emitting layer, or similar of an OLED, and in some cases, a colorfilter or similar.

As described above, the open areas OA of the electrode metal EMcorresponding to the touch electrode TE are provided according tolight-emitting positions, thereby improving the luminous efficiency ofthe display panel 110.

To further improve the luminous efficiency of the display panel 110, acircuit portion (i.e. a portion in which a transistor or similar isdisposed) of each subpixel may be located to overlap the electrode metalEM instead of overlapping any of the open areas OA.

The subpixels may be comprised of red (R), green (G), and blue (B)subpixels.

In some cases, the subpixels may be comprised of red (R), white (W),green (G), and blue (B) subpixels.

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the touchscreen panel TSP according toexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates seven touch electrodes TE, each of which is embodiedas a mesh-type electrode metal EM having open areas OA, as illustratedin FIG. 3.

The seven touch electrodes TE include four first touch electrodes TE-1corresponding to driving electrodes and three second touch electrodesTE-2 corresponding to sensing electrodes.

Among the four first touch electrodes TE-1, two first touch electrodesTE-1 arranged in the i^(th) column form the i^(th) driving electrodeline DRL #i.

In an example, two first touch electrodes TE-1 arranged in the i^(th)column may be electrically connected by a bridge pattern BP located on adifferent layer.

In another example, the two first touch electrodes TE-1 arranged in thei^(th) column may be formed integrally with each other, such that thetwo first touch electrodes TE-1 are electrically connected.

Among the four first touch electrodes TE-1, two first touch electrodesTE-1 arranged in the (i+1)^(th) column form the (i+1)^(th) drivingelectrode line DRL #i+1.

In an example, two first touch electrodes TE-1 arranged in the(i+1)^(th) column may be electrically connected by a bridge pattern BPlocated on a different layer.

In another example, the two first touch electrodes TE-1 arranged in the(i+1)^(th) column may be formed integrally with each other, such thatthe two first touch electrodes TE-1 are electrically connected.

The three second touch electrodes TE-2 are arranged in the j^(th) row toform the j^(th) sensing electrode line SENL #j.

In an example, the three second touch electrodes TE-2 arranged in thej^(th) row may be formed integrally with each other, such that the threesecond touch electrodes TE-2 are electrically connected.

In another example, the three second touch electrodes TE-2 arranged inthe j^(th) row may be electrically connected by a bridge pattern BPlocated on a different layer.

Referring to FIG. 4, all of the touch electrodes TE, including the fourfirst touch electrodes TE-1 and the three second touch electrodes TE-2,can be manufactured by manufacturing an electrode metal EM having a widearea and then cutting the electrode metal EM in a predetermined patternso that the first and second touch electrodes are electricallyseparated.

FIG. 5A illustrates a mesh-type touch electrode in the touchscreen panelaccording to exemplary embodiments, with dummy metals being present inthe area of the mesh-type touch electrode, while FIG. 5B illustrates themesh-type touch electrode in the touchscreen panel according toexemplary embodiments, in which dummy metals present in the area of themesh-type touch electrode are not illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 5A, each of a plurality of touch electrodes disposedon the touchscreen panel TSP is embodied as a patterned mesh-typeelectrode metal EM.

That is, the patterned mesh-type electrode metal EM may be referred toas a touch electrode TE.

Since a single touch electrode TE is a patterned mesh-type electrodemetal EM, a plurality of openings are present in the area of the singletouch electrode TE. Here, a plurality of openings present in the area ofthe touch electrode TE are referred to as open areas OA.

At least portions of the plurality of touch electrodes TE disposed onthe touchscreen panel TSP have one or more dummy metals DM in at least aportion of the area thereof, the dummy metals DM being electricallydisconnected from the electrode metal EM. The dummy metals DM are in asame metal layer as the electrode metal EM. The dummy metals DM aresurrounded on all sides by the electrode metal EM in a plan view of thetouchscreen panel.

Here, the electrode metal EM can be a portion of the touch electrode TEto which touch driving signals are applied or in which touch sensingsignals are sensed. In contrast, although the dummy metals DM arepresent in the area of the touch electrode TE, no touch driving signalsare applied to and no touch sensing signals are sensed in the dummymetals. The dummy metals may be electrically floated, and are also bereferred to as a floating pattern.

Although the electrode metal EM can be electrically connected to thetouch circuit 130, the dummy metals DM are not electrically connected tothe touch circuit 130.

As described above, one or more dummy metals DM can be present in eacharea of all of the touch electrodes TE, the dummy metals DM beingdisconnected from the corresponding electrode metal EM.

Alternatively, one or more dummy metals DM may be located in each areaof portions of the touch electrodes TE, disconnected from thecorresponding electrode metal EM. That is, the dummy metals DM may notbe present in each area of portions of the touch electrodes TE. Forexample, the dummy metals DM may not be present in each area of cornertouch electrodes located in a corner area of the touch screen panel. Asanother example, the dummy metals DM may not be present in each area ofedge or inner touch electrodes located in a corner area or inner area ofthe touch screen panel.

Regarding the functions of the dummy metals DM, when only the mesh-typeelectrode metal EM is present but one or more dummy metals DM are notpresent in the area of a single touch electrode TE, a visibility problemin which the outline of the electrode metal EM is visually discernableon the screen may occur.

In contrast, when one or more dummy metals DM are present in the area ofa single touch electrode TE, the visibility problem in which the outlineof the electrode metal EM is visually discernable on the screen can beprevented.

In addition, the magnitude of capacitance of each touch electrode TE iscontrollable by adjusting the presence or absence of the dummy metals DMor the number of the dummy metals (i.e. the ratio of the dummy metals)in each touch electrode TE, so that touch sensitivity can be improved.

Referring to FIG. 5A, after an electrode metal EM of a single touchelectrode TE is manufactured, dummy metals DM disconnected from theelectrode metal EM can be manufactured by cutting the electrode metal EMin a predetermined pattern.

FIG. 5B illustrates the electrode metal EM acting as an actualelectrode, produced by removing the dummy metals from the touchelectrode TE illustrated in FIG. 5A. The expression “the electrode metalEM acting as an actual electrode” means that touch driving signals areapplied to or touch sensing signals are sensed in the electrode metalEM.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the peripheral portions of the electrode metal EMare finely patterned, while the inner portions of the electrode metal EMare loosely patterned, due to the spaces from which the dummy metals DMare removed.

Hereinafter, when the touch electrode TE is illustrated, the mesh-typeelectrode metal EM, actually functioning as the electrode, may only beillustrated by omitting the dummy metals EM from the touch electrode TE.

FIG. 6 illustrates three areas of the touchscreen panel TSP according toexemplary embodiments.

In the touchscreen panel TSP according to exemplary embodiments, a touchelectrode area TEA, in which the touch electrodes TE are disposed,includes corner areas, edge areas, and an inner area.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the touchscreen panel TSP, the touchelectrode area TEA may be a quadrangular area comprised of four cornerareas and four edge areas. In some cases, the touch electrode area TEAmay be a triangular area comprised of three corner areas and three edgeareas. The touch electrode area can be generalized as a polygonal areahaving N number of corner areas and N number of edge areas (where N is anatural number equal to or greater than 3).

In some cases, in the touchscreen panel TSP, the touch electrode areaTEA may be circular. In this case, the edge areas can be regarded ascorner areas.

In the following, for convenience of description, the touch electrodearea TEA of the touchscreen panel TSP will be described as aquadrangular area having four corner areas and four edge areas by way ofexample.

The outline of the corner areas of the touchscreen panel TSP, located inthe periphery of the touchscreen panel TSP, or the outline of the cornerareas of the touch electrode area TEA of the touchscreen panel TSP,located in the periphery of the touchscreen panel TSP, may be rightangled.

Alternatively, the outline of the corner areas of the touchscreen panelTSP, located in the periphery of the touchscreen panel TSP, or theoutline of the corner areas of the touch electrode area TEA of thetouchscreen panel TSP, located in the periphery of the touchscreen panelTSP, may be rounded. In one embodiment, a shape may be rounded if it hasa curved shape.

In this case, the touchscreen panel TSP suitable for the touch displaydevice 100 having rounded corners may be provided.

FIG. 7 illustrates touch electrodes TE in three areas (i.e. corner,edge, and inner areas) of the touchscreen panel TSP according toexemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 7, the plurality of touch electrodes TE arerespectively embodied as a mesh-type electrode metal EM.

The plurality of touch electrodes TE include corner touch electrodes CElocated in the corner areas of the touchscreen panel TSP and non-cornertouch electrodes located in non-corner areas (i.e. the inner area andthe edge areas) of the touchscreen panel TSP.

The sizes of the corner touch electrodes CE may be smaller than thesizes of the non-corner touch electrodes.

The non-corner electrodes of the plurality of touch electrodes TEinclude edge touch electrodes EE and inner touch electrodes IE asnon-corner touch electrodes, the edge touch electrodes EE being locatedin the edge areas of the touchscreen panel TSP, and the inner touchelectrodes IE being located in the inner area of the touchscreen panelTSP, inside of the edge areas and the corner areas.

The inner touch electrodes IE have a diamond-like or rectangular shape.

Although the edge touch electrodes EE have a diamond-like or rectangularshape, the shape of the edge touch electrodes EE may correspond to thehalf of the shape of the inner touch electrodes IE.

The corner touch electrodes CE may be smaller than the half of the shapeof the inner touch electrodes IE.

The sizes of the edge touch electrodes EE are greater than the sizes ofthe corner touch electrodes CE.

The sizes of the edge touch electrodes EE are equal to or smaller thanthe sizes of the inner touch electrodes IE.

The size relationship among the corner touch electrodes CE, the edgetouch electrodes EE, and the inner touch electrodes IE can still applyregardless of whether or not the corner areas are rounded.

When the outer portion (i.e. peripheral portion) of the corner areaslocated in the periphery of the touchscreen panel TSP has a roundedshape as illustrated in FIG. 7, the peripheral portion of the cornertouch electrodes CE is rounded, and at least portions of the touch lines(e.g. TL-2) electrically connected to the corner touch electrodes CE arerounded.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the plurality of touch linesTL-1 and TL-2 electrically connecting all or portions of the pluralityof touch electrodes TE to a touch circuit TC are disposed on thetouchscreen panel TSP having the rounded corner areas, the corner shapeof the touch lines (e.g. TL-2) electrically connected to the cornertouch electrodes CE may be different from the corner shape of the touchlines (e.g. TL-1) electrically connected to the non-corner touchelectrodes. In specific, the touch lines TL-2 electrically connected tothe corner touch electrodes CE can have rounded corners. By contrast,other touch lines TL-1 have 90 degree non-rounded corners.

Thus, when the peripheral portions of the corner areas of the touchelectrode area TEA of the touchscreen panel TSP are rounded, the cornertouch electrodes CE and the touch lines TL may be designed to havesuitable structures, thereby helping the touchscreen panel TSP to bedesigned as desired.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating a corner area of the touchscreenpanel TSP according to exemplary embodiments, while FIG. 9 is across-sectional view illustrating the corner area of the touchscreenpanel TSP according to exemplary embodiments.

The first and second touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 are embodied asmesh-type electrode metals EM, respectively.

Each area of the first and second touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 hasdummy metal areas DMA in which dummy metals DM are present.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, two outermost touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2among four touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2, corresponding to corner touchelectrodes located in a corner area, have smaller sizes than theremaining touch electrodes.

Thus, capacitance formed between the first touch electrodes TE-1 and thesecond touch electrodes TE-2 in the inner area may have a significantdifference from capacitance formed between first touch electrodes TE-1and the second touch electrodes TE-2 in the corner area.

That is, capacitance formed between the first touch electrodes TE-1 andthe second touch electrodes TE-2 in the corner area may be lower thancapacitance formed between the first touch electrodes TE-1 and thesecond touch electrodes TE-2 in the inner area.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, at or near the boundary between thefirst and second touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2, no or fewer dummy metalareas DMA are present, thereby reducing the number of open areas OA. Inaddition, at or near the boundary between the first and second touchelectrodes TE-1 and TE-2, the electrode metals EM are finely patterned.

This feature may cause a significant difference among capacitance Cm1formed between a first touch electrode TE-1 and a second touch electrodeTE-2 located at or near the boundary, capacitance Cm2 formed between afirst touch electrode TE-1 located at or near the boundary and a secondtouch electrode TE-2 that is not located at or near the boundary, andcapacitance Cm3 formed between a first touch electrode TE-1 that is notlocated at or near the boundary and a second touch electrode TE-2located at or near the boundary.

As described above, a difference in capacitance may occur regardless ofwhether the peripheral portion of the touch electrode area TEA of thetouchscreen panel TSP is rounded or not rounded (e.g. right angled).

However, as described above, when the peripheral portion of the touchelectrode area TEA of the touchscreen panel TSP is rounded, a greaterdifference in capacitance may occur.

Such differences in capacitance related to the corner areas inevitablylower the level of touch sensitivity based on changes in capacitance.

Accordingly, exemplary embodiments provide a touchscreen panel structurethat can improve touch sensitivity by reducing or removing differencesin capacitance related to the corner area.

As described above, after an electrode metal EM is manufactured, dummymetals DM surrounded by the electrode metal EM can formed by cuttingportions of the electrode metal EM in an intended pattern.

Due to the dummy metals DM formed as described above, the electrodemetals EM and the dummy metals DM may be located on the same layer, asillustrated in FIG. 9.

Thus, the dummy metals can be more easily formed, together with theelectrode metals EM, in positions in which the visibility problem can beovercome.

When the touchscreen panel TSP is disposed within the display panel 110implemented as an OLED display panel, the touchscreen panel TSP islocated between an encapsulation layer ENCAP and a display cover COVER.

Touch sensor metals, such as the plurality of touch electrodes TE andthe plurality of touch lines TL, are located between the encapsulationlayer ENCAP and the display cover COVER.

The display cover COVER is an outer cover of the display panel 110. Thedisplay cover COVER may be implemented as a cover glass panel.

The encapsulation layer ENCAP is a layer protecting underlying materials(not shown), such as an organic material or similar, from moisture oroxygen.

A cathode layer that is the cathode of one or more OLEDs is presentbelow the encapsulation layer ENCAP such that the encapsulation layerENCAP is on the cathode. The thickness of the encapsulation layer ENCAPmay be 5 μm or more.

Hereinafter, differences in capacitance related to the corner areas asdescribed above and a touchscreen panel structure for preventingresultant touch sensitivity degradation will be described.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a corner area of another touchscreenpanel TSP according to exemplary embodiments, in which the ratio ofdummy metals DM in the corner area is adjusted, while FIG. 11 is across-sectional view illustrating the corner area of another touchscreenpanel TSP according to exemplary embodiments, in which the ratio of thedummy metals DM in the corner area is adjusted.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a plurality of touch electrodes TE areembodied as mesh-type electrode metals EM, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 10, two outermost touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 amongfour touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2, corresponding to corner touchelectrodes located in a corner area, have smaller sizes and thereforeoccupy less area than the other types of touch electrodes (edge touchelectrodes EE and inner touch electrodes IE) located in non-corner areas(i.e. the edge areas and the inner area).

In the area of each non-corner touch electrode (e.g. each inner touchelectrode IE), one or more dummy metals DM are located, electricallydisconnected from the corresponding electrode metal EM. That is, thenon-corner touch electrode may have a structure illustrated in FIG. 5A.

However, in each area of the corner touch electrodes CE, correspondingto the first and second touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 illustrated inFIG. 10, the mesh-patterned electrode metal EM may be present alone with(a) no dummy metals DM being provided therein or (b) the ratio of dummymetals in this area may be lower than the ratio of dummy metals in eacharea of the non-corner touch electrodes (the inner touch electrodes IEor edge electrodes EE).

Here, the ratio of dummy metals DM in the area of each touch electrodeTE means a ratio B/A of a total area B of dummy metals DM in the area ofa single touch electrode TE with respect to a total area A of the singletouch electrode TE.

The dummy metal ratio may vary depending on, for example, the number ofthe dummy metals DM in the area of the touch electrode or the total areaof the dummy metals DM in the area of the touch electrode.

The dummy metal ratio of dummy metals DM in each area of the touchelectrodes TE may be inversely proportional to an effective electroderatio of a portion to which touch driving signals are applied (i.e. aportion substantially acting as an electrode) in each area of the touchelectrodes TE.

More specifically, dummy metals DM, electrically disconnected from theelectrode metal EM and in a same layer as the electrode metal EM, maynot be present in each area of the corner touch electrodes CE,corresponding to the first and second touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2illustrated in FIG. 10.

Alternatively, dummy metals DM may be present in each area of the cornertouch electrodes CE, corresponding to the first and second touchelectrodes TE-1 and TE-2 illustrated in FIG. 10, at a ratio lower thanthe ratio of dummy metals DM in each area of the non-corner touchelectrodes (the inner touch electrodes IE or edge touch electrodes EE).

As described above, the effective electrode ratio of a portion to whichtouch driving signals are applied (i.e. a portion substantially actingas an electrode) in each area of the corner touch electrodes CE may beincreased.

Here, the effective electrode ratio is a ratio D/C of a total area D ofa portion actually functioning as an electrode, except for open areas,dummy metal areas, and the like, with respect to a total area C of atouch electrode TE.

As described above, when the ratio of dummy metals DM with respect tothe corner touch electrodes CE is reduced (i.e. the effective electroderatio is increased), although the size of each of the corner touchelectrodes CE is smaller than the size of each of the non-cornerelectrodes (the inner touch electrodes IE), the effective electrode areaof each corner touch electrode CE is equal or similar to the effectiveelectrode area of each non-comer electrode. Thus, the difference incapacitance between the corner areas and the non-corner areas can bereduced or removed.

The effective electrode area means the area of the portion that actuallyfunctions as the electrode.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are plan and cross-sectional views illustrating a casein which any dummy metals DM are not present in the areas of the cornertouch electrodes CE corresponding to the first and second touchelectrodes TE-1 and TE-2.

In the case of FIG. 9, capacitance was decreased due to the presence ofthe dummy metal areas DMA. In contrast, in the case of FIG. 11,additional capacitance Cm4 and Cm5 was created compared to the case ofFIG. 9, since the electrode metals EM were increased due to the absenceof the dummy metals DM.

Due to additional capacitance compensation, a difference amongcapacitance Cm1 formed between a first touch electrode TE-1 and a secondtouch electrode TE-2 located at or near the boundary, capacitance Cm2and Cm4 formed between a first touch electrodes TE-1 located at or nearthe boundary and a second touch electrode TE-2 not located at or nearthe boundary, and capacitance Cm3 and Cm5 formed between a first touchelectrode TE-1 not located at or near the boundary and a second touchelectrode TE-2 located at or near the boundary can be removed orsignificantly reduced.

According to the structure of adjusting the dummy metal ratio, althoughthe corner touch electrodes CE have smaller areas, the effectiveelectrode area of each of the corner touch electrodes CE is equal orsimilar to the effective electrode area of each of the non-corner touchelectrodes (inner touch electrodes IE). This can consequently reduce orremove the difference in capacitance between the corner areas and thenon-comer areas, thereby improving touch sensitivity.

As described above, the plurality of touch electrodes TE include edgetouch electrodes EE and inner touch electrodes IE as non-corner touchelectrodes, the edge touch electrodes EE being located in the edge areasof the touchscreen panel TSP, and the inner touch electrodes IE beinglocated in the inner area of the touchscreen panel TSP, inside of theedge areas and the corner areas.

In this case, the sizes of the edge touch electrodes EE are greater thanthe sizes of the corner touch electrodes CE.

The sizes of the edge touch electrodes EE are smaller than or equal tothe sizes of the inner touch electrodes IE.

Dummy metals DM, electrically disconnected from the electrode metal EMand in a same layer as the electrode metal EM, may not be present ineach area of the edge touch electrodes EE.

Alternatively, dummy metals DM may be present in each area of the edgetouch electrodes EE, at a ratio higher than the ratio of dummy metals DMin each area of the corner touch electrodes CE.

Also, dummy metals DM may be present in each area of the edge touchelectrodes EE, at a ratio lower than the ratio of dummy metals DM ineach area of the inner touch electrodes IE.

In other words, each inner electrode IE can occupy a certain area and bemade from mesh shaped metal EM. Dummy metal DM can be in a same layer asthe mesh shaped metal EM and be located in the area occupied by theinner electrode IE. Similarly, there can be dummy metal DM in an areaoccupied by an edge electrode EE but at a lower dummy metal ratio thanthe inner electrodes IE. Or there can be no dummy metal DM at all in theareas occupied by the edge electrodes EE. There can also be dummy metalDM in the area of a corner electrode CE but at a lower dummy metal ratiothan the inner electrodes IE and edge electrodes EE. Or there can be nodummy metal DM at all in the areas occupied by corner electrode CEs.

FIG. 12 illustrates a case in which the sizes of touch electrodes TElocated in corner areas of the touchscreen panel TSP according toexemplary embodiments are increased.

As described above, it is possible to reduce or remove differences incapacitance related to the corner area by adjusting the ratio of thearea of the dummy metals DM in the area of the touch electrodes TE-1 andTE-2 corresponding to the corner touch electrodes CE.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 12, it is possible to reduce orremove differences in capacitance related to the corner area byincreasing the sizes of the touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 correspondingto the corner touch electrodes CE.

Although the touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 in the touch electrodestructure of FIG. 8 are illustrated as being expanded in FIG. 12, thetouch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 in the touch electrode structure of FIG.10 may also be expanded.

The expanded portions of the touch electrodes TE-1 and TE-2 may bepresent outside of the active area in which images are displayed. Thatis, all of the touch electrodes TE are present in the active area, butthe expanded portions of the touch electrodes may be present outside ofthe active area.

Hereinabove, the structure and method for reducing or removingdifferences in capacitance (i.e. mutual-capacitance differences) relatedto the corner areas, in the touchscreen panel TSP formutual-capacitance-based touch sensing, have been described.

However, the method and structure for adjusting the ratio of dummymetals DM in the area of the corner electrodes CE and the method andstructure for increasing the sizes of the corner touch electrodes CE toreduce or removing differences in capacitance related to the cornerareas as described above can be equally applied to the touchscreen panelTSP for self-capacitance-based touch sensing. This will be brieflydescribed with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary touchscreen panel TSP according toexemplary embodiments, while FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating acorner area of the touchscreen panel TSP illustrated in FIG. 13, in thecase in which the ratio of dummy metals DM in the corner area isadjusted.

Referring to FIG. 13, the touchscreen panel TSP according to exemplaryembodiments may be a touchscreen panel TSP for self-capacitance-basedtouch sensing.

In this case, a plurality of touch electrodes TE are electricallyseparated from each other.

In addition, the plurality of touch electrodes TE are electricallyconnected to touch lines TL, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, when corner areas of a touch electrode areaTEA are rounded, corner touch electrodes CE, corresponding to touchelectrodes TE located in the corner areas, may be smaller than anon-corner electrode (ex. inner touch electrodes IE, edge touchelectrode EE), corresponding to touch electrodes TE located in annon-corner area (ex. inner area, edge area) rather than the cornerareas.

This feature may lead to a difference between capacitance(self-capacitance) formed between a corner touch electrode CE and auser's finger and capacitance (self-capacitance) formed between anon-corner touch electrode (IE or CE) and the user's finger.

Thus, the corner touch electrodes CE may be designed such that no dummymetals DM are present in the areas of the corner touch electrodes CE orthe ratios of dummy metals DM in the areas of the corner touchelectrodes CE are reduced.

Then, the ratio Rc of dummy metals DM in each area of the corner touchelectrodes CE is lower than the ratio Ri of dummy metals DM in each areaof non-corner touch electrodes (IE or EE).

The adjustment of the ratio of dummy metals can increase the effectiveelectrode areas of portions of the corner touch electrodes CE to whichtouch driving signals are applied (i.e. portions actually acting aselectrodes).

Thus, the effective electrode area of each of the corner touchelectrodes CE can be the same as or equivalent to the effectiveelectrode area of each of the non-comer touch electrodes.

It is therefore possible to reduce or remove the difference betweencapacitance (self-capacitance) formed between the corner touchelectrodes CE and the user's finger and capacitance (self-capacitance)formed between the non-corner touch electrodes and the user's finger.

As described above, in the structure of the touchscreen panel TSP forself-capacitance-based touch sensing, capacitance differences related tothe corner areas can be reduced or removed, thereby improvingself-capacitance-based touch sensitivity.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are circuit diagrams illustrating subpixel structures inthe touch display device 100 according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 15, when the touch display device 100 according toexemplary embodiments is an OLED display device, each of subpixelsbasically includes an OLED, a driving transistor DRT driving the OLED, afirst transistor T1 transferring a data voltage to a first node N1corresponding to a gate node of the driving transistor DRT, and astorage capacitor Cst maintaining a data voltage corresponding to animage signal voltage or a voltage corresponding thereto for a period ofa single frame.

The OLED includes a first electrode (e.g. an anode or a cathode), anorganic layer, a second electrode (e.g. a cathode or an anode), and thelike.

A base voltage EV SS is applied to the second electrode of the OLED.

The driving transistor DRT drives the OLED by supplying a drivingcurrent to the OLED.

The driving transistor DRT includes a first node N1, a second node N2,and a third node N3.

The first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT is a node correspondingto the gate node, which can be electrically connected to a source nodeor a drain node of the first transistor Tl.

The second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT is a source node or adrain node, which can be electrically connected to the first electrodeof the OLED.

The third node N3 of the driving transistor DRT is a node to which adriving voltage EVDD is applied. The third node N3 is a drain node or asource node, which can be electrically connected to a driving voltageline DVL through which the driving voltage EVDD is supplied.

The first transistor T1 is electrically connected between the data lineDL and the first node N1 of the driving transistor DRT. The firsttransistor T1 can be controlled by a scanning signal SCAN applied to thegate node through a gate line.

The first transistor T1 is turned on by the scanning signal SCAN totransfer a data voltage Vdata supplied through a data line DL to thefirst node N1 of the driving transistor DRT.

The storage capacitor Cst is electrically connected between the firstnode N1 and the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

The storage capacitor Cst is an external capacitor intentionallydesigned to be outside of the driving transistor DRT, instead of being aparasitic capacitor (e.g. Cgs or Cgd), i.e. an internal capacitor,present between the first node N1 and the second node N2.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, each subpixel further includes a secondtransistor T2 to control the voltage of the second node N2 of thedriving transistor DRT or sense characteristic values of the subpixel(e.g. the threshold voltage or mobility of the driving transistor DRT,the threshold voltage of the OLED, and the like).

The second transistor T2 is electrically connected between the secondnode N2 of the driving transistor DRT and a reference voltage line RVL,through which a reference voltage Vref is supplied. The secondtransistor T2 is controlled by a sensing signal SENSE, i.e. a type ofscanning signal, applied to a gate node thereof.

The second transistor T2 is turned on by the sensing signal SENSE toapply the reference voltage Vref, supplied through the reference voltageline RVL, to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

In addition, the second transistor T2 can be used as one of voltagesensing paths to the second node N2 of the driving transistor DRT.

The scanning signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE may be separategate signals. In this case, the scanning signal SCAN and the sensingsignal SENSE can be applied to the gate node of the first transistor T1and the gate node of the second transistor T2, respectively, throughdifferent gate lines.

In some cases, the scanning signal SCAN and the sensing signal SENSE maybe the same gate signals. In this case, the scanning signal SCAN and thesensing signal SENSE can be commonly applied to the gate node of thefirst transistor T1 and the gate node of the second transistor T2through the same gate line.

The driving transistor DRT, the first transistor T1, and the secondtransistor T2 may be an n-transistor or a p-transistor.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are cross-sections of the touch display device 100according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, when the touchscreen panel TSP is disposedwithin the display panel 110 implemented as an OLED display panel, thetouchscreen panel TSP may be located between an encapsulation layerENCAP and a display cover.

In other words, touch sensor metals, such as a plurality of touchelectrodes TE and a plurality of touch lines TL, may be located on theencapsulation layer ENCAP.

Since the touch electrodes TE are formed on the encapsulation layerENCAP as described above, it is possible to form the touch electrodes TEwithout an influence on displaying performance or formation of layersfor display.

In the case of mutual-capacitance-based touch sensing, bridge patternsBP are provided to connect the driving electrodes and/or connect thesensing electrodes among the plurality of touch electrodes TE. Thebridge patterns BP may be located on a layer different from the layer ofthe touch electrodes TE, with an insulating layer being situated betweenthe two layers.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the bridge patterns BP and the insulatinglayer between the touch electrodes TE and the bridge patterns BP are notillustrated for convenience of description.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, a cathode layer that is the cathode of oneor more OLEDs is present below the encapsulation layer ENCAP. Theencapsulation layer ENCAP is thus on the cathode layer. The touchelectrodes TE are directly on or indirectly on the encapsulation layerENCAP.

The thickness of the encapsulation layer ENCAP may, for example, 5μm ormore.

When the thickness of the encapsulation layer ENCAP is designed to be 5pm or more as described above, parasitic capacitance formed between thecathode layer and the touch electrodes TE can be reduced. This canprevent touch sensitivity from being lowered by parasitic capacitance.

When the touch electrodes TE are embodied as mesh-type electrode metalsEM having the open areas OA, the position of each of the open areas OAmay overlap the position of one or more subpixels or one or morelight-emitting portions in the top-bottom direction.

Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the plurality of open areas OAcorrespond to a plurality of color filters CF.

In addition, the electrode metals EM of the touch electrodes TEcorrespond to black matrices BM.

As described above, when the OLED display panel uses white LEDs, therequired color filters CF are disposed in positions corresponding to theopen areas OA, thereby providing superior lighting performance to thetouch display device 100.

The vertical positional relationship between the color filers CR and thetouch electrodes TE are as follows:

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the plurality of color filters CF and theblack matrices BM are located above the plurality of touch electrodesTE.

The plurality of color filters CF and the black matrices BM are locatedabove an overcoat OC on the plurality of touch electrodes TE.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the plurality of color filters CF and theblack matrices BM are located below the plurality of touch electrodesTE.

The plurality of touch electrodes TE are located on the overcoat OCabove the plurality of color filters CF and the black matrices BM.

As described above, it is possible to provide the touch display device100 having an optimal positional relationship between the color filtersCF and the touch electrodes TE, considering displaying performance, suchas lighting performance, and touch performance.

To improve the ease of fabrication of the touch display device 100 andreduce the size of the touch display device 100, in the related art,approaches for disposing the touchscreen panel TSP including the touchelectrodes TE within the display panel 110 have been undertaken.

However, such approaches for disposing the touchscreen panel TSP withinthe OLED display panel 110 confront significant difficulties andrestrictions.

For example, in fabrication of the OLED display panel 110, organicmatters reduce the degree of freedom of high-temperature processing forforming the touch electrodes TE, typically formed of metal, within thepanel.

Due to the restrictions caused by the structural and processingcharacteristics of the OLED display panel, it is difficult to disposethe touch electrodes TE functioning as touch sensors within the OLEDdisplay panel 110. Therefore, in the related art, the touch sensingstructure has been realized by attaching the touchscreen panel TSP tothe OLED display panel 110 instead of disposing the touchscreen panelTSP within the OLED display panel 110.

In contrast, as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the structure with thetouch electrodes TE disposed on the encapsulation layer ENCAP makes itpossible to provide the OLED display panel 110 with the touchscreenpanel TSP disposed therewithin, the OLED display panel 110 havingsuperior displaying and touch sensing functions.

FIG. 19 illustrates touch electrodes (TEa, TEb, TEc, TEd in thetouchscreen panel according to exemplary embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 19, a plurality of touch electrodes TE included in atouch display device according to embodiments of the present inventionincludes a first pair (1910) of immediately adjacent touch electrodes(TEa, Teb) and a second pair (1920) of immediately adjacent touchelectrodes (TEc, TEd).

In the second pair (1920) of adjacent touch electrodes (TEc, TEd), theremay be no dummy metals or the dummy metal ratio may be relatively small.

The first pair (1910) of immediately adjacent touch electrodes (TEa,TEb) are a first electrode metal patterned with a mesh type. The secondpair (1920) of immediately adjacent touch electrodes (TEc, TEd) are asecond electrode metal patterned with a mesh type.

The first pair (1910) of adjacent touch electrodes (TEa, TEb) occupies alarger area than the second pair (1920) of adjacent touch electrodes(TEc, TEd).

The second pair (1920) of adjacent touch electrodes (TEc, TEd) may nothave dummy metals. Alternatively, the second pair (1920) of adjacenttouch electrodes (TEc, TEd) may have a smaller dummy metal ratio thanthe first pair (1910) of adjacent touch electrodes (TEa, TEb).

Therefore, an open area size (OA1) of the first electrode metal islarger than an open area size (OA2) of the second electrode metal. Inother words, a mesh hole size (open area size) of the first electrodemetal is larger than a mesh hole (open area size) of the secondelectrode metal.

The first pair (1910) of immediately adjacent touch electrodes (TEa,TEb) is in a non-corner region of a touchscreen panel and the secondpair (1920) of immediately adjacent touch electrodes (TEc, TEd) is in acorner region of the touchscreen panel.

A corner shape of a first touch line (1911) electrically connected to atouch electrode (TEb) of the first pair (1910) of immediately adjacenttouch electrodes (TEa, TEb) is different than a corner shape of a secondtouch line (1921) electrically connected to a touch electrode (TEd) ofthe second pair (1920) of immediately adjacent touch electrodes (TEc,TEd).

The second touch line (1921) has a portion with a rounded corner shape.

According to the exemplary embodiments as set forth above, the touchdisplay device 100 and the touchscreen panel TSP can obtain high touchsensitivity by preventing or removing undesired differences incapacitance formed among touch electrodes located in all positions,regardless of the positions of the touch electrodes.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiments, the touch displaydevice 100 and the touchscreen panel TSP can perform accuratecapacitance-based touch sensing, regardless of the shapes of thetouchscreen panel.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiments, the touch displaydevice 100 and the touchscreen panel TSP can obtain high touchsensitivity by preventing undesired differences in capacitance amongtouch electrodes, even in the case in which the touch electrodes havedifferent sizes.

In addition, according to the exemplary embodiments, the touch displaydevice 100 and the touchscreen panel TSP can obtain high touchsensitivity by preventing undesired differences in capacitance amongtouch electrodes, even in the case in which the touch electrodes havedifferent shapes.

Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiments, the touch displaydevice 100 and the touchscreen panel TSP can obtain high touchsensitivity in all areas by reducing undesired differences incapacitance between touch electrodes located in rounded corner areas andtouch electrodes located in the other areas.

The foregoing descriptions and the accompanying drawings have beenpresented in order to explain the certain principles of the presentdisclosure. A person skilled in the art to which the present disclosurerelates could make many modifications and variations by combining,dividing, substituting for, or changing the elements without departingfrom the principle of the present disclosure. The foregoing embodimentsdisclosed herein shall be interpreted as illustrative only but not aslimitative of the principle and scope of the present disclosure. Itshould be understood that the scope of the present disclosure shall bedefined by the appended Claims and all of their equivalents fall withinthe scope of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch display device, comprising: a pluralityof touch electrodes, wherein a first touch electrode of the plurality oftouch electrodes occupies a first area and comprises first mesh-shapedelectrode metal; and first dummy metal in a same layer as the firstmesh-shaped electrode metal and in the first area occupied by the firsttouch electrode, the first dummy metal being electrically disconnectedfrom the first mesh-shaped electrode metal.
 2. The touch display deviceof claim 1, wherein a second touch electrode of the plurality of touchelectrodes occupies a second area and comprises second mesh-shapedelectrode metal, and the touch display device either: (a) furthercomprises second dummy metal in a same layer as the second mesh-shapedelectrode metal and in the second area occupied by the second touchelectrode, the second dummy metal being electrically disconnected fromthe second mesh-shaped electrode metal, a second ratio of the seconddummy metal to the second area of the second touch electrode being lowerthan a first ratio of the first dummy metal to the first area of thefirst touch electrode, or (b) does not include any dummy metal in thesame layer as the second mesh-shaped electrode metal in the second areaoccupied by the second touch electrode.
 3. The touch display device ofclaim 2, wherein the second touch electrode is a corner electrode in acorner region of a touchscreen panel and the first touch electrode is anon-corner electrode in a non-corner region of a touchscreen panel. 4.The touch display device of claim 3, wherein the corner electrode has arounded edge.
 5. The touch display device of claim 2, wherein the secondtouch electrode is an edge electrode at an edge region of a touchscreenpanel and the first touch electrode is an inner electrode in an innerregion of a touchscreen panel.
 6. The touch display device of claim 2,wherein the first area occupied by the first touch electrode has adifferent size than the second area occupied by the second touchelectrode.
 7. The touch display device of claim 6, wherein, when thesecond area occupied by the second touch electrode is smaller than thefirst area occupied by the first touch electrode.
 8. The touch displaydevice of claim 2, wherein a third touch electrode of the plurality oftouch electrodes occupies a third area and comprises third mesh-shapedelectrode metal, the third area being smaller than the second area, andtouch display device either: (a) further comprises third dummy metal ina same layer as the third mesh-shaped electrode metal and in the thirdarea occupied by the third touch electrode, the third dummy metal beingelectrically disconnected from the third mesh-shaped electrode metal, athird ratio of the third dummy metal to the third area of the thirdtouch electrode being lower than the second ratio of the second dummymetal to the second area of the second touch electrode, or (b) does notinclude any dummy metal in the same layer as the third mesh-shapedelectrode metal in the third area occupied by the third touch electrode.9. The touch display device of claim 1, wherein the first mesh shapedelectrode metal has a plurality of open areas, each of the plurality ofopen areas corresponding to light-emitting portions of one or moresubpixels.
 10. The touch display device of claim 1, wherein a blackmatrix overlaps the first mesh shaped electrode metal, and wherein theplurality of open areas correspond to a plurality of color filters. 11.The touch display device of claim 1, wherein the first mesh shapedelectrode metal surrounds the first dummy metal in a plan view of thetouch display device.
 12. The touch display device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a cathode layer; and an encapsulation layer on the cathodelayer, wherein the plurality of touch electrodes are on theencapsulation layer.
 13. The touch display device of claim 12, whereinthe plurality of touch electrodes are in a touch electrode area, and atleast one of the encapsulation layer and the cathode layer is largerthan the touch electrode area.
 14. The touch display device of claim 1,wherein a plurality of touch lines electrically connect to the pluralityof touch electrodes, wherein a corner shape of a first touch lineelectrically connected to the first touch electrode is different than acorner shape of a second touch line electrically connected to a secondtouch electrode of the plurality of touch electrodes.
 15. The touchdisplay device of claim 14, wherein the second touch line has a portionwith a rounded corner shape.
 16. A touch display device, comprising: aplurality of touch electrodes, comprising: a first pair of immediatelyadjacent touch electrodes made of a first electrode metal patterned as amesh type; and a second pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodesmade of a second electrode metal patterned as a mesh type, wherein anopen area size of the first electrode metal is larger than an open areasize of the second electrode metal, and wherein the first pair ofadjacent touch electrodes occupy a larger area than the second pair ofadjacent touch electrodes.
 17. The touch display device of claim 16,wherein the first pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes is in anon-corner region of a touchscreen panel and the second pair ofimmediately adjacent touch electrodes is in a corner region of thetouchscreen panel.
 18. The touch display device of claim 16, wherein acorner shape of a first touch line electrically connected to a touchelectrode of the first pair of immediately adjacent touch electrodes isdifferent than a corner shape of a second touch line electricallyconnected to a touch electrode of the second pair of immediatelyadjacent touch electrodes.
 19. The touch display device of claim 18,wherein the second touch line has a portion with a rounded corner shape.20. The touch display device of claim 16, further comprising: a cathodelayer; and an encapsulation layer on the cathode layer, wherein theplurality of touch electrodes are on the encapsulation layer.